No Place for a Lady (10 page)

Weaving their way through the crowd, they found chairs outside where the cool night air fanned their warm faces. They could
hear giggling and voices whispering, then April's voice came across
loud and clear. "Did you see her frumpish silk dress, with her
bosom almost falling out for everyone to see?" She snickered.
"You'd think she was at a War Between the States ball."

The group of young girls stood clustered near the opening of
the door, apparently unaware of Crystal just outside. The laughter
continued.

"I think she's beautiful, and so is her dress, although a bit too
elegant for a barn dance. What's the matter, April, afraid she'll
steal your thunder?" one girl asked.

"Not at all," April said. "I just think she looks and acts like a
floozy, and she's throwing herself at the men!"

"Well, I just think all of you are being a little unfair;' spoke a
quieter voice.

"Oh, Emily, grow up!" April said. "She doesn't know the difference between a pancake and an enchilada. I'll be glad when she's
gone." The talking diminished as they walked out of earshot.

Bill swallowed hard as Crystal's face crumpled with hurt. "I'm
sorry you heard that, Crystal." In the light glow of the lamps
Crystal saw his face turn scarlet. "They didn't mean anything by
that. Perhaps when they get to know you, they'll feel differently,"
he soothed.

"They are indeed lacking in hospitality," she said, swallowing
the lump in her throat. She sounded stronger than she felt, and
she could feel her eyes burning. She had lost her appetite.

Later, Crystal stood talking with Charles and Sara Johnson,
whom she liked on the spot. They were simple homesteaders, and
she could sense their genuineness. Their daughters, Emily and
Beth, were two rather plain-looking young girls she recognized
as the ones she'd overheard earlier. Beth eyed her openly, but
Emily was sweet and struck up a conversation with her. Out of the
corner of her eye, Crystal watched as Luke encircled April's waist
and hugged her to his hipbone while they stood watching others
dancing. Jube sauntered over to where she and Emily stood.

"Would you care to dance, Emily?" He shifted nervously, not
looking at her.

"Well ... I can't dance too good:" She had a soft smile, and Crystal
thought she was prettier when her smile reached her blue eyes.

"What you don't know, Jube can teach you," she said. She pushed
Emily in his direction and smiled inwardly. What a sweet couple
they would make.

By now, Crystal had a gnawing feeling in her stomach. She
was a bit giddy with excitement from all the fun and gaiety. She
supposed she should eat something, but that was soon forgotten
as Luke ambled in her direction.

"Care to dance, or have you worn yourself out?"

"Tired? Me? I'm used to dancing;" she responded a little louder
than she intended. Luke chuckled and led her to the floor. Rusty
was calling a square dance, and before she knew it she was being whirled and sashayed from one partner to another until she ended
back up in Luke's strong arms, but not before she saw April place
a possessive hand on his arm. Crystal looked away. Then, out of
nowhere, Luke was at her side, pulling her off the dance floor.

"Follow me!" Luke said as she tried to keep up with his long
strides. He steered her to the door and outside into the cool night
air.

"I believe you need to get some fresh air." They strolled toward
the corral.

"I feel mighty fine. I don't need air," Crystal said, but Luke put
a protective arm around her.

Her rib cage is so small. Why, my two hands could span her
waist. He remembered how she looked as Bill whirled her around
on the dance floor. The bodice had a low neckline, narrowing to
her waist, where white ruffles peeked out from the pleated folds
of her skirt. He thought she couldn't have looked lovelier with
her chestnut hair pinned with velvet ribbons hanging down her
back. He'd felt a strange pull inside as hed watched her giving rapt
attention to the pastor.

"I just haven't eaten anything yet. That's all that's wrong with me"
She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling like diamonds as they filled
with tears. "Luke, some of the girls don't like me:" She leaned against
the corral railing. "They think my dress is gaudy and the neckline
too low and... " Her voice trailed off, and she started crying.

Luke felt a tug at his heart and pulled the small form to him.
"Shh ... you are just imagining they think that:" He stroked her
head as he would a child. Her hair smelled so sweet.

"No, I heard them." She pulled away, wiping her face with the
back of her hand.

"You sure do stick out like a sore thumb. But you know, that's
jealous females for you. Always comparing:" His eyes swept over
her with admiration.

"Stick out? Blast you!" Her green eyes snapped.

"What? I didn't mean what you think-"

"Luke Weber, are all cowboys so thick between the ears? Don't
you ever think before you blurt things out?" she yelled. "You have the
manners of a warthog!" She turned and picked up her skirts to go.

Luke stung as though he had been slapped. What had he
done? "And you, Crystal, have been reminding me ever since
you arrived!"

"Better go back inside to your darling April, who's been milking you all night. Because she can split wood, round up horses,
and fire a gun faster than lightning:" Crystal snapped her fingers
for emphasis.

It was Luke's turn to be angry. "I think I'll do just that, Miss
Fancy Pants!" He whirled around and stalked back to the barn,
leaving her alone. Blasted little piece of fluf What did she expect,
wearing a gown that only accentuates her amazing figure? Every
man in the place was ogling over her!

He walked straight to Rusty and scowled. "Rusty? Play a fast
one, of man." Luke knew he was barking orders at his good friend
and was sorry immediately.

"What's nettled you?" Rusty cocked his head in Luke's direction.

"Nothing:"

"It's the little things that get tangled in your spurs that trip you
up, Luke:" Rusty slapped him on his shoulder.

Luke frowned. "Now what's that supposed to mean?"

Rusty just shook his head and rosined up his bow for the next
set. Luke walked off in a huff and pulled April back out onto the
dance floor.

The remainder of the evening was a blur in Crystal's memory.
After Luke had stormed off, josh had come looking for her and
claimed she was the best dancer there. Crystal let him lead her
back to the party. She felt Luke's eyes on her and deliberately
flirted with josh, who seemed pleased as punch with her direct
attention. He seemed to be one of the few men here with manners
and breeding. Besides, she liked his kind brown eyes.

"Crystal..." Josh spoke in an unabashed manner. "Would it
be all right if I called on you next week?"

"I'd like that very much, Josh." Crystal smiled up at him, knowing full well Luke's gaze was on her while he danced with April
right next to them.

It was well after midnight as Kate and Crystal bade their guests
good night. In a flurry of good-byes and promises to have Crystal
over soon, everyone waved, tired but contented to make their
way home under a bright, full moon.

Autumn was a distant thought as the morning sun sent its scorching rays on the Sabbath day. It was apparent that Sunday church
was always observed in Kate's household.

Crystal shook and fluffed out her Sunday finery. It was a rust
taffeta shirtwaist with tiny tucks and a full skirt in the same rich
color, trimmed in cream velvet with panels of voile inserts. She
frowned. The outfit was a little worn, but on close scrutiny, one
could tell it had been finely stitched and was once the height of
fashion. She would have to purchase some material for a new
one and mend the others that hung in her wardrobe.

She twisted her thick hair to the top of her head and secured
it with pins. With a jab of a mother-of-pearl hat pin, she placed
a straight-brimmed hat on her head and raised it jauntily on one
side over a bandeau of rust rosettes.

If Crystal had been surprised at the cowhands' fresh attire
at the party, she was even more astonished at their dark suits
and stiff white collars on Sunday. The womenfolk rode in the
buckboard, and the men followed on horseback. Kate was perspiring profusely beneath her black bombazine but seemed very pleased that her "extended family" indulged her in their
church attendance.

Crystal's face warmed slightly when Luke's cool gaze caught
hers. It was hard to figure out what he was thinking. She felt like
she'd made a complete fool of herself Friday night and had avoided
his presence whenever she could by tending to chores.

As the white steeple of the church came into view, Kate guided
the horses beneath a stand of spruces alongside some other buggies
in the shade. Rusty and Kurt assisted the ladies down, and they
all walked toward the group of people who were milling around
outside the church steps. Children ran around the adults and
played hide-and-seek behind their mothers' wide skirts.

"Yoo-hoo!" Mary Franklin called out to them as they approached.

Crystal waved and started in her direction and was met by
Emily Johnson, who smiled shyly at Jube as he was tying up the
horses.

"Ma wants to know if you can come to dinner after church.
Please say you'll come;' she said to Crystal.

Crystal glanced at Kate, who nodded, and she turned back to
Emily. "I would love to"

"Great. See you right after service then." Emily turned to join
her family inside the church.

"She's such a sweet young lady," Mary commented to Crystal
and Kate. "And I can see that she's taken an instant liking to you,
Crystal"

"I like her too:'

"By the way, your shoes should be in by the middle of the
week;' Mary said.

"Good. I'll be in to collect them:"

"Come early and I'll make us some fine imported tea, and you
can tell me all about the South. I've always wanted to visit there"
Mary smiled at her.